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City of Peterborough Candidates
City of Peterborough candidates share their thoughts and ideas for issues surrounding the city of Peterborough
City of Peterborough candidates share their thoughts and ideas for issues surrounding the city of Peterborough
Over the past couple of week, PKHBA has been asking politicians their thoughts and opinions in anticipation of the upcoming municipal election. Please note that politicians in Ward 1 (Otonabee) & Ward 3 (Town) did not answer any of our questions.
Matt Crowley: Fixing the downtown core and helping grow our local businesses.
Charmaine Magumbe: As we recover from the effects of the pandemic, which has exacerbated the inequalities in the community, there needs to be a reset of living healthy, safe, and affordably in Peterborough. We need to build a strong positive Peterborough, by addressing inequalities in the community and in society in general including the opioid crisis, housing, and its affordability, disenfranchisement with the public transportation system, the lack of local economic development, and an increase in food insecurity. The city needs to collaborate with local organizations and other levels of government to improve the quality of life for all of its citizens. As a city councilor for Monaghan Ward, I will work hard to enhance life in Peterborough as we venture into a ‘new normal’. The pathway to success focuses on my 3 ‘E’ priority pillars for this campaign: Economy-The city needs to diversify its tax base by working more closely with local economic development professionals to develop strategies to attract new business to Peterborough and assist existing businesses to continue operations and create jobs. Environment-Ensure environmental issues remain top of mind at the city council by continuing to support programs i.e. Peterborough's Zero-Waste initiatives, Sustainable Peterborough's and support community-led environmental initiatives. Work with the Indigenous communities to create a sustainable environment.Equity- Work with all levels of government and community groups to create more rent-geared-to-income housing, co-housing, secondary units, and tiny homes. To have a transit system for everyone, a transit system returning to a hub-based system. Advocate for a welcoming community – building diversity, and equity inclusion by supporting disability, newcomer, and racialized groups, and LGBTQ communities.-The city needs to diversify its tax base by working more closely with local economic development professionals to develop strategies to attract new business to Peterborough and assist existing businesses to continue operations and create jobs. Environment- Ensure environmental issues remain top of mind at the city council by continuing to support programs i.e. Peterborough's Zero-Waste initiatives, Sustainable Peterborough's and support community-led environmental initiatives. Work with the Indigenous communities to create a sustainable environment. Equity- Work with all levels of government and community groups to create more rent-geared-to-income housing, co-housing, secondary units, and tiny homes. To have a transit system for everyone, a transit system returning to a hub-based system. Advocate for a welcoming community – building diversity, and equity inclusion by supporting disability, newcomer, and racialized groups, and LGBTQ communities.
Lyle Saunders: As a father of three amazing kids, my priority is to ensure our city is a safe and respectful place to live. I believe we need to elect the best individuals to become a team of problem solvers on city council, with a dedication progressive change and ensuring proper follow-up on the changes and policy they approve. If we don’t elect in problem solvers, given the various and vast challenges facing city council, we can’t expect the best solutions needed for our city’s long-term planning.
Don Vassiliadis: No answer.
Jeff Westlake: I believe we need to get back to basics. We have some of the highest taxes in Ontario, with little to show for it. We need to focus on essential services, and we need councillors around the table who will have the courage to say NO to frivolous spending.
Tom Wigglesworth: In my campaign I have stressed 3 priorities which I believe are both interdependent and equal in urgency. They are limiting tax increases, fostering prosperity through development and emphasizing recovery for substance abusers on our streets.
Gary Baldwin: No answer.
Keith Riel: My top priority for the city is get as much RGI(Rent Geared to Income)housing built.
Andrew MacGregor: No Answer.
Andrew Beamer: No answer.
Aldo Andreoli: No answer.
Karen Grant: No answer.
Dave Haacke: No answer.
Carlotta James: My top priority for the City of Peterborough is to promote and enable community-first decision-making so that everyday citizens shape our city’s present and future. Community-first decision making will help guide municipalities into a resilient future, and as Northcrest Ward Councillor, I will bring my leadership and results-oriented track record as a small-business owner and community-builder to promote and enable community-first decision-making to deliver more housing for families, enable a thriving local economy, ensure connected and safe transportation, and advance local climate and biodiversity solutions.
Shauna Kingston: No answer.
Matt Crowley: I see one of two things happening over the next four years – either we begin to lose people due to the mass amount of crime, addiction, and rampant homelessness, or we work towards solutions to these issues and as a result we see an explosion in jobs, industry, and population. As someone born and raised in Peterborough, I prefer the latter and I will spend my time on city council working towards fixing what is broken in the city and setting us on the right path towards a more vibrant and successful community.
Charmaine Magumbe: I definitely envision Peterborough growing and developing in a number of ways. To adequately meet the needs of the growing Peterborough population in the next four years, there will be a need for new or expanding businesses and industry, an improvement of Peterborough's infrastructure, and the building of more schools to accommodate the increase of students and provide more recreational facilities for families and individuals. This growth in the next four years will also need to encourage and attract development opportunities for the commercial sector: shopping, restaurants, and medical facilities keeping in mind zero-carbon building of any new build to be smarter for environmental sustainability. As city councilors, we will be working with key stakeholders to implement Peterborough's Official Plan/Transportation Master Plan, working with Peterborough Kawartha Economic Development to assure effective development and tourism in Peterborough and the area. For example, in Monaghan Ward, we have the Lily Lake housing development that will see exponential growth in the ward, that, according to a Peterborough Examiner report, could see the development support almost 3,000 homes and 8,400 residents and jobs. That will be a huge boon to the local economy as well. In addition to the Lily Lake development, there will be a need to increase residential housing – of all types - for a growing Peterborough population due to immigration and migration from the GTA and elsewhere.
Lyle Saunders: There’s no question Peterborough is a gem of a city and we’re a desired tourism and retirement community. However we need to ensure job creation to keep our local workforce in our city. As a father of three living in Peterborough, I’m concerned about their future employment opportunities. Talking with our dedicated community partners and organizations, we are expecting continued and steady population growth within our city. I understand the challenges businesses of all sizes have regarding not only accessing affordable and available commercial and industrial land, but also the issues with finding housing for their existing employees to assist with the training requirements they need for their desired new expansion. We’re at the point where we need to plan, prepare and approve multi-story buildings with hybrid use and potential. For example if we have a developer wanting to renovate a building downtown, to add multi-story apartments or condos, we need plans and proposals that include retail/commercial space on their ground floor to ensure we’re not taking away from our downtown community spirit (I.e. “window shopping” experience). Also throughout the city, we need to accelerate our road maintenance and traffic plans. When our city continues to grow, our roads get overused when we don’t expand our road, transit and sidewalk infrastructure.
Don Vassiliadis: No answer.
Jeff Westlake: This depends much on the results of the election. If we end up with a council that stalls growth to appease a NIMBY mentality, then we may see further decay rather than growth and development. I am hopeful we elect a council that will acknowledge the need for more housing, approve plans swiftly, and work to develop the infrastructure to support it. We need a transportation plan that goes beyond bike lanes and transit subsidies.
Tom Wigglesworth: I believe the city should encourage every opportunity for industries to move into the area by ensuring serviced lots are available and removing disincentive fees, etc. We should be partnering with the surrounding counties and townships in every way possible because as they grow and prosper so does Peterborough. I would like to see a push to create more rental accommodations in the form of small and large apartment buildings. Hopefully with more supply the rental rates will decrease over time.
Gary Baldwin: No answer.
Keith Riel: We will see more people moving from the GTA to Peterborough in the next four years.
Andrew MacGregor: No Answer.
Andrew Beamer: No answer.
Aldo Andreoli: No answer.
Karen Grant: No answer.
Dave Haacke: No answer.
Carlotta James: As a mother, I know that Peterborough is a wonderful city to raise a family because of its enviable greenspaces like Jackson Park, its recreation amenities and excellent sports and athletics, its mid-size, and its strong sense of community. Over the next 4 years, Peterborough will continue to grow steadily thanks to these qualities that are attracting young families, new Canadians, secondary students, and retirees to move to Peterborough, especially as housing prices soar in the GTA. Peterborough’s growth and development will need to respond by providing more housing, including affordable housing and rental units, for families, students, and for seniors who want to downsize and live active, urban lifestyles (as many retirees coming from Toronto want). That’s why Housing for Families is one of my campaign policy priorities. As Northcrest Councillor, I will accelerate planning and approvals for more housing and promote vibrant neighbourhoods to improve liveability and affordability in Northcrest Ward. I would advocate to see that our updated planning and zoning promotes and accelerates approvals for secondary suites and for attractive “missing middle housing” like townhouses, condos and apartments, and allows for more local stores and active transportation, which helps to increase the desirable ‘walkability score’. Enabling more sustainable and affordable housing developments in our neighbourhoods also means removing out-dated “red-tape” restrictions like exclusionary zoning and legacy parking minimums (like Toronto did in 2021) and letting the market drive parking levels, this enables new developments to devote more floor space to housing, cut unnecessary costs, and ensures we are using our land resources more efficiently and sustainably for residents. At the same time, I know it will be critical to ensure open and constructive engagement with Northcrest residents when development proposals come forward, so that we retain and respect existing neighbourhood character. My community-building experiences in Peterborough and in working with teams across North America to coordinate the Monarch Ultra have demonstrated my resourcefulness, my ability and commitment to engaging respectfully, and on collaborating in finding and advancing community-led solutions.
Shauna Kingston: No answer.
Matt Crowley: Our city faces a serious shortage of serviceable employment lands. The relationship between the city and the counties has eroded to the point where neither official plan includes verbiage that would result in us gaining sufficient property. Unfortunately, this may only leave us with two scenarios moving forward: 1. Identify those areas within the city that could be potentially significant for industrial or commercial development and then prioritize the development of those areas. Ensure that traffic and transit needs are aligned with any potential development and implement low or competitive levels of taxation on those lands. This could have a significant positive effect when trying to attract commercial or industrial development on our available land. 2. Negotiate with the county a shared land/service that would allow Peterborough to use land from outside our borders. As for residential development, I would like to see the city adjust zoning restrictions to allow for either more multi-family buildings or multiple single-family dwellings on smaller lots. Decreasing property taxes on new builds and instead raising taxes on available lands would pass the savings to the homeowner and allow developers to build more intensively. High-density builds in our downtown core would also allow us to house more people in a smaller area and would have the added benefit of more foot traffic for our downtown businesses.
Charmaine Magumbe: The City of Peterborough has already supported Built for Zero Peterborough (BFZ-Ptbo) a group of local organizations committed to ending chronic homelessness by December 31st, 2025, which I endorse and would continue to champion. Built For Zero Peterborough works alongside communities across Canada to end chronic homelessness and I support Peterborough’s efforts here. There is also a program called Housing First which is focused on moving people into housing quickly. This is very different from their old approach which required clients to engage in services first before having a place to live. I feel that these two programs to provide housing to the unhoused will make a difference in the downtown core. Having people live and work downtown will also be a boost to downtown businesses. In addition, there needs to be low-barrier accommodation in Peterborough and a rehabilitation center for those experiencing addiction problems. We also need to continue with the Community and Well-Being Plan to create and implement a holistic integrated collaborative approach to the unhoused/opioid crisis/increase in crime problem. This is a complex issue that needs the city council and staff to work with other levels of government to contribute to the solution to this crisis. Also, as city councilors, we need to continue to have representation on the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area Association which is a key partner in championing and revitalizing the city’s downtown core and supporting its businesses. I support working with the DBIA to help entrepreneurs, new investors, and newcomers to our city. We also need to work diligently to keep the downtown streets safe for all to encourage more pedestrian traffic, and cycling to shops and services downtown.
Lyle Saunders: We need permanent long-term solutions regarding the challenges facing our city. Being the lowest level of government, we can’t be (nor should be) expected to financially provide solutions to our growing challenges alone. We need to look at all avenues to increase our city revenues beyond raising property taxes. This is why we need to elect in strong problem solvers onto our city council to tackle our various and vast city challenges to come up with responsible long-term solutions. Without proper city planning we won’t receive any additional financial approval by the higher two levels of government. Simply put, we can’t ask for additional funding without proper planning and oversight. As for revitalizing downtown, when you have an increase in the number store vacancies, you will no doubt have an increased presence of loitering. We need to help our small business get back into these vacant stores to improve our downtown, in partnership of planning permanent housing solutions for our most vulnerable. As a small business owner myself, I believe small businesses need more access to low-interest loans and more grant opportunities by all levels of government as some of these store fronts are $3K-$5K per month, on a 3-5year lease (I know this through some of my past tax-season clients). Our downtown will not succeed without the success of our small business community.
Don Vassiliadis: No answer.
Jeff Westlake: We cannot criminalize homelessness and addiction, but criminal behaviour still exists and it cannot be allowed to go unchecked. The laws as they're written must be enforced. This will require more uniformed officers. However, I realize that hiring more police officers is not in itself a magic bullet solution. Our police spend 90% of their time dealing with 10% of the population. Until the feds and province get serious about ending catch-and-release justice, we could hire 200 more new officers and still not see measurable results. I am disturbed by what appears to be a total lack of emphasis on recovery when dealing with addicts. Harm reduction is appropriate if the end goal is getting them off the illicit substances and becoming functioning, contributing members of society. If there is no "exit strategy" and we're just keeping them hooked, that is an inappropriate response to the problem.
Tom Wigglesworth: We need enough safe shelter beds to accommodate our identified homeless residents. An emphasis on addiction recovery needs to be a top priority and the province needs to provide the resources that are required for this. The police need to make life miserable for any persons who are trafficking in hard drugs. We need a whole society response to integrate our marginalized residents back into our community with job skills and dignity.
Gary Baldwin: No answer.
Keith Riel: I think that the new mayor elects first order of business should be to put a task force together to tackle Crime, Homelessness and Addictions.
Andrew MacGregor: No Answer.
Andrew Beamer: No answer.
Aldo Andreoli: No answer.
Karen Grant: No answer.
Dave Haacke: No answer.
Carlotta James: My vision for the revitalization of underutilized lands that have development potential is to support new and sustainable housing developments that feature connected and safe transportation and local amenities, and to support businesses that will enable a thriving local economy. My vision is also that the revitalization of lands contributes to our local biodiversity and climate solutions, including with the preservation of our waterways, so we can all benefit from a healthy and resilient environment for generations to come. I believe that Peterborough’s qualities as a midsize city with enviable greenspace are key to attracting investment, businesses and developers to Peterborough thanks to the quality-of-life we can offer to businesses and employees
Shauna Kingston: No answer.
Matt Crowley: Our city faces a serious shortage of serviceable employment lands. The relationship between the city and the counties has eroded to the point where neither official plan includes verbiage that would result in us gaining sufficient property. Unfortunately, this may only leave us with two scenarios moving forward: 1. Identify those areas within the city that could be potentially significant for industrial or commercial development and then prioritize the development of those areas. Ensure that traffic and transit needs are aligned with any potential development and implement low or competitive levels of taxation on those lands. This could have a significant positive effect when trying to attract commercial or industrial development on our available land. 2. Negotiate with the county a shared land/service that would allow Peterborough to use land from outside our borders. As for residential development, I would like to see the city adjust zoning restrictions to allow for either more multi-family buildings or multiple single-family dwellings on smaller lots. Decreasing property taxes on new builds and instead raising taxes on available lands would pass the savings to the homeowner and allow developers to build more intensively. High-density builds in our downtown core would also allow us to house more people in a smaller area and would have the added benefit of more foot traffic for our downtown businesses.
Charmaine Magumbe: In Monaghan Ward and within the city of Peterborough, there is underutilization of commercial and residential spaces. A case in point, malls, and plazas can be used both as commercial and residential spaces with apartments/condos built above the mall. To accommodate our growing city, we need to densify our community as outlined in the city’s Official Plan. We need to build more apartment units and fewer single-family houses. Within the densification of our communities, we need to provide well-thought-out green spaces for pollinator gardens, community farms/gardens, interactive parks for families, and places to socialize for families, seniors, and adults, i.e. community centers. We need development that includes all of the above that features a walkable, bikeable community, and public transit for work, play, shopping, and other activities.
Lyle Saunders: City council members do need to consistently review our city’s asset reports regarding underutilization and what can be revitalized. My vision is to assist with forward momentum to ensure we’re maximizing our city’s opportunities for proper residential, commercial, industrial and public service use. My hope is that next city council will utilize city and community partner reports and recommendations to plan long-term solutions and maximize opportunities our city has. We also need to ensure we are doing this under an environmentally friendly and a fiscal responsibility lens. The city is already mitigating around too many properties that have been labelled too toxic to develop upon, without a large price tag to correct.
Don Vassiliadis: No answer.
Jeff Westlake: We need to build more, and build faster. I also am concerned when I hear candidates indicate that they would dictate to builders the where, when and how of developing land. City council (and city staff), need to encourage and support builders, rather than impede and frustrate them throughout the process.
Tom Wigglesworth: Zoning needs to be easier to change and the permit process need to be streamlined. We need more housing of all types and barriers to its creation need to be eliminated.
Gary Baldwin: No answer.
Keith Riel: I think that Bill 109 has taken away the visionary process that City Council or its citizens have for the community as far as commercial and residential development.
Andrew MacGregor: No Answer.
Andrew Beamer: No answer.
Aldo Andreoli: No answer.
Karen Grant: No answer.
Dave Haacke: No answer.
Carlotta James: No answer.
Shauna Kingston: No answer.
Matt Crowley: I have always told my daughters that they need to work towards a trade. It’s a valuable asset that will never diminish and can be applied to daily life - and I still believe that learning a trade needs to be promoted in schools from an early age. When I was a child at school, both parents and students were guided away from the trades and directed towards other subjects like math, science, or English. While these are absolutely important subjects, young people are not educated enough in real, tangible skills such basic finance/budgeting and basic electrical/plumbing/mechanical skills. I feel all these things need to be part of every young person’s curriculum in either elementary or in high school as these are the skills that they will use in everyday life after leaving the classroom.
Charmaine Magumbe: I would definitely support programs that encourage students, and youth to develop their skills in the construction and trades, via Fleming or Trent and at the high school level too. I would also like to have co-op places in the high schools, and post-secondary schools and implement them to encourage skilled trades. There can also be an opportunity to work with the New Canadians Centre to identify newcomers who have skilled job experience or are interested in pursuing training in skilled trades. We can work with employment services i.e. Agilec, Employment Planning Counselling, and the YMCA, all are examples of employment services that promote and identify people who have skilled trade experience.
Lyle Saunders: Yes absolutely we need to invest into the promotion of trades. Trades play a large part of our job growth opportunities in our city. What I hear as a challenge is getting local companies to provide training/trainers that accept apprentices, for individuals to complete their licence requirements. I think we need to look into the advice and recommended solutions to these challenges from those on the front-lines of this industry and implement the appropriate recommendations within our city to assist with the retention and growth of our local workforce.
Don Vassiliadis: No answer.
Jeff Westlake: Absolutely. Our education system in Ontario spent 20 years pushing kids into university, regardless of whether they were interested or equipped for it. Skilled trade careers are the future of the Ontario economy. The province needs to ensure kids are provided encouragement through their high school guidance counselors to explore these opportunities. If I am elected, I would look forward to creating a dialogue with Fleming's School of Trades and Technology as to how the City can best help facilitate the swift entry of their students into our workforce.
Tom Wigglesworth: I have a skilled trades background as a Construction Millwright and a Trades Trainer. For many years I have promoted the trades to friends and their children as an excellent career choice and I continue to do this. The skilled trades definitely need to be better emphasized at the high school level when youth are making their career path decisions. Marketing should be used to encourage people to move here with the skills we require as a community.
Gary Baldwin: No answer.
Keith Riel: As a skilled trades person I have always promoted youth getting into skilled trades. When I speak with young people I ask them to keep their options open and think of a career in skilled trades.
Andrew MacGregor: No Answer.
Andrew Beamer: No answer.
Aldo Andreoli: No answer.
Karen Grant: No answer.
Dave Haacke: No answer.
Carlotta James: Absolutely! Peterborough has a proud history as the “electric city” and as a manufacturing hub and as Councillor I would celebrate and promote this history and the valuable skills that Peterborough workers have built and contributed over generations when engaging with residents, with our business community, with Fleming College and Trent, and with our provincial government, and advocate for investments in supporting skills and training. As Councillor, I would also advocate for investments in retro-fitting and standards to improve the sustainability and climate resilience of our developments and infrastructure, which will ensure there are economic opportunities to motivate, attract, and retain skilled trade jobs. For the past seven years, I have successfully run a landscaping business that specializes in transforming spaces into pollinator habitat. Every single day, I work with my hands and with landscaping equipment, and I have enjoyed mentoring my staff to learn and strengthen their skills and feel the satisfaction of working with your own hands to create high-quality gardens and landscaping across our own community.
Shauna Kingston: No answer.